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Starting anything new can be overwhelming at first. With so much information readily available, literally, at your fingertips even knowing where to start can be impossible. However, as the saying goes, “there’s never a time like the present.” We’ve put together some tips, tricks, and pointers, for anyone looking to get into the world of saltwater fly fishing to make getting a start all that much easier. Tarpon, bonefish, and permit are known as “the big three” and are the most popular saltwater game fish. For that reason we’ve gone over the basics of fly fishing for these terrific species. Although this guide is not exhaustive and there are countless nuances when it comes to saltwater fly fishing, we feel this is as good a place as any to start.

Spotting bonefish can be an undertaking if unfamiliar with saltwater fly fishing. But with a pointers you can be well on your way to spotting the elusive "ghost of the flats." Before anything else, the number one rule and the rule that trumps all others is to listen to your guide. We cannot hammer this rule home hard enough. Flats guides have spent countless hours training their eyes to spot bonefish and their signs and you'll find more success listening to their expertise than you trying to find fish on the flats. But if you want to take your bonefishing game to the next level there are a handful of techniques, tips, and tricks you can use to start spotting your own bonefish on your next saltwater trip.

Bonefish leaders need to be strong and resistant to abrasive coral as well as stealthy enough to land a fly in the fish’s proximity. It all begs the question; what bonefish leader is best? That's a pretty difficult question and if you ask 50 different guides, chances are, you'll get 50 different answers. We've narrowed it down to what we think works best, although that's certainly to say there aren't alternatives. A general rule of thumb and a good place to start is if you're chasing larger fish down low, your leader should be shorter, and likewise if you’re chasing smaller fish in shallower water your leader should be longer. But let's explore leader setups more in depth.

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